We should all work for just three hours a day – and here's the proof

Can someone please show this to my boss?

By
Jess Edwards

02/10/2017

Getty Images

How many times have you felt as though you've worked a full day only to look at the clock and see it's not even 11am yet?

We're all for new research that shortens our working day, which is why this particular study saying we should only really be working three hours a day has just become our fave new piece of bedtime reading.

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According to the survey, the average amount of time that employees are productive at work is only 2 hours 53 minutes a day. That's not even half of the working day, people.

So what's keeping us distracted? VoucherCloud asked 1,989 full-time UK office staff about their daily habits at work, and what they spend their time doing.

Spoiler alert: not really a lot of work.

The workers were asked – 'Do you consider yourself to be productive throughout the entire working day?' – and 79% said 'no'.

Instead, we're spending a whole load of time looking at memes, catching up on the latest news, making and eating snacks (very important) and chatting to our mates.

Sounds pretty rosey doesn't it?

These were the top 10 responses when the study asked people to admit what they really do at work, and how long on average they spend doing it...

Checking social media – 47%/ 44 minutes

Reading news websites – 45%/ 1 hour 5 minutes

Discussing out-of-work activities with colleagues – 38%/ 40 minutes

Making hot drinks – 31%/ 17 minutes

Smoking breaks – 28%/ 23 minutes

Text/instant messaging – 27%/ 14 minutes

Eating snacks – 25%/ 8 minutes

Making food in office – 24%/ 7 minutes

Making calls to partner/ friends- 24%/ 18 minutes

Searching for new jobs – 19%/ 26 minutes

So, the only logical conclusion would be to cut the working day down from 9am-12pm and then go home to catch up on our socials, apply for new jobs, eat all the snacks and drink all the tea, right?